City of West Memphis and solar
City of West Memphis is a municipal utility serving about 10,187 homes in Arkansas. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is not worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 8.8¢34% below Arkansas average
- Typical bill
- $1011,150 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- ~30%Avoided-cost export credit
- Typical payback
- 23.5 yrs4.9 kW, cash
Export rules for City of West Memphis customers
Avoided-cost export credit (Arkansas rule).
Under Act 278 of 2023, new solar customers (applications after Sept 30, 2024) still offset their own usage at retail, but any excess electricity sent to the grid is credited only at the utility's avoided cost, often under half of retail. Customers who connected earlier keep 1:1 retail credit through 2039-2040.
Solar for a typical City of West Memphis home
| System | 4.9 kW (50% of 1,150 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $14,525 |
| First-year savings | $605 |
| Payback | 23.5 years |
| 25-year net | $1,225 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- —
- Share of customers
- —
- Residential solar capacity
- —
- Residential customers
- 10,187
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about City of West Memphis and solar
Does City of West Memphis have net metering?
City of West Memphis follows Arkansas's rules: Under Act 278 of 2023, new solar customers (applications after Sept 30, 2024) still offset their own usage at retail, but any excess electricity sent to the grid is credited only at the utility's avoided cost, often under half of retail. Customers who connected earlier keep 1:1 retail credit through 2039-2040.
How much does electricity cost with City of West Memphis?
Residential customers paid an average of 8.4¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 8.8¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 1,150 kWh a month, a bill of about $101.
Is solar worth it with City of West Memphis?
For a typical customer, solar is not worth it: a 4.9 kW system costing about $14,525 pays back in about 23.5 years, with $1,225 net over 25 years.
How many City of West Memphis customers have solar?
City of West Memphis did not report residential net-metered solar to EIA for 2025.
Legal name: City of West Memphis - (AR) (EIA ID 20382). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.